What does a person do with old hens that are no longer laying?

[ThePolishPrincess]

Keep them as pets. They serve me well over the years and deserve a glorious retirement. Just MHO.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I keep all of mine. It's doable if you add to your flock sparingly and only as needed. Besides, my 4 year olds are still laying, and they go broody, which is useful.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

My hens are only a year old.. BUT I am sure, they will stay here until they pass away hopefully of natural causes... I have been feeding 10 dogs for years and years (most are now in their mid teens--whats a few more mouths to feed---the chicken food is less expensive than our dogs food is and they eat much less...

 

[Moxiechick]

Do you garden? I know I'll be happy to keep my old grannie chickens if they are willing to eat grubs, bugs, and weeds! And Poop! Great compost from the poop! Once a chicken doesn't want to poop anymore though, she's outta here, but I think that is kind of how it works anyway.

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
Question from a (relative) newbie: Do these older hens lay occasionally? Mine, well, most of them at least, are treasured pets, the oldest are not quite 1 year, so it will be awhile, but as an urban chicken keeper, I am limited in the # of hens I can have. Will I have to get diapers to make them "house hens"?

 

[tcmstalcup]

I have a neighbor that takes them and makes the best tamales EVER!!! I am too wimpy and lack any desire to butcher them myself. I could if I had to but I don't so.... If I have fed and provided for them and they are healthy and happy for their lives I don't have any qualms about eating them. I provided a good life for them and their death is quick and painless as possible. They are livestock ya know.

 

[TriciaHowe]

My 8 yr old did lay last year. Can't stop those comets LOL... I don't think she has layed since she went through molt this winter though. She has a pretty distinct egg and I don't think I have come across one of hers in a while. All of my 4/5 yr olds are still laying. I have a 4 yr old frizzle sitting on eggs as we speak

 

[seminolewind]

Mine will all be kept as senior citizens should be kept, with honor and comfort.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

This is one of the defining differences between folks who keep livestock and those who keep pets.

I have young daughters so have ended up having to go both ways. We have a select few birds that are named pets. They can point them out on demand. They'll live out their lives until they die of whatever it is that old hens die of. The oldest of them still lays the occasional egg though most of them no longer lay enough to be worth their feed.

All of the rest of them however are livestock and like all livestock that no longer serves a useful purpose they are disposed of. A spent hen makes the best chicken and yellow rice you've ever tasted.

.....Alan.

 

[gvntofly05]

A.T. Hagan :

This is one of the defining differences between folks who keep livestock and those who keep pets.

I have young daughters so have ended up having to go both ways. We have a select few birds that are named pets. They can point them out on demand. They'll live out their lives until they die of whatever it is that old hens die of. The oldest of them still lays the occasional egg though most of them no longer lay enough to be worth their feed.

All of the rest of them however are livestock and like all livestock that no longer serves a useful purpose they are disposed of. A spent hen makes the best chicken and yellow rice you've ever tasted.

.....Alan.

I have the same situation! A few are my daughters favs, so they will live out their life. The others though are considered livestock here. When they slow down or stop laying into the stew pot they go.

We just butchered some old laying hens that I got from a neighbor. She couldn't slaughter them herself. They made the best chicken and dumplings. I had friends and family over for dinner and they all kept asking me what my secret was for the great flavor it had. I just said it's the old stewing hens I used, not that bland and texture-less chicken you buy in the store!​